Mississippi State QB Tyler Russell named SEC Offensive Player of the Week

Mississippi State junior quarterback Tyler Russell passed for 274 yards and four touchdowns in a 45-14 victory over the University of Arkansas. Russell was named the Southeastern Conference offensive player of the week.

Matt Stevens

November 19, 2012 10:56:06 AM

STARKVILLE -- After becoming the first Mississippi State quarterback in five years to throw four touchdowns in a Southeastern Conference game this past Saturday vs. Arkansas, Tyler Russell was named SEC Offensive Player of the Week, the league announced Monday. With his second weekly honor this season (week two vs. Auburn), Russell is the fourth player in school history to earn the weekly accolade twice in the same season.

Russell led the Maroon and White to a 45-14 victory against the Razorbacks, finishing 19-of-32 for 274 yards and a career-high tying four scores. The 45 points were the most ever by a Bulldog team against Arkansas, while the 31-point victory was the largest margin of victory in the series for State.

"I thought I could have played better," Russell said after the game. "There were some checks I should have put us in the right play and I didn't early on. I was able to make the check."

One of five quarterbacks in the country with more than 20 touchdowns and less than five interceptions, Russell extended his single-season school record for passing touchdowns (21), while also breaking the single-season school records for completions (201), yards (2,523) and 200-yard passing games (seven). The Meridian, Miss., native also moved into second all-time for touchdowns responsible for in a single season (23) and total offense for a single season (2,553), while moving into third all-time with 333 pass attempts in a single season.

MSU Players with two SEC Offensive Player of the Week Honors in the Same Season

2012 - Tyler Russell

2004 - Jerious Norwood

1991 - Sleepy Robinson

1986 - Don Smith

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